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Buck for the Badge

Posted 9/10/25

GILPIN COUNTY - Thousands of lives are saved every year by the 4.6 million firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical technicians in the United States. Dedicated to the people they serve, they sometimes lose their own lives in...

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Buck for the Badge

Posted

GILPIN COUNTY - Thousands of lives are saved every year by the 4.6 million firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical technicians in the United States. Dedicated to the people they serve, they sometimes lose their own lives in the process.

To show our gratitude for their service, in 2016 Steve Henry began staging rodeos to raise money for the critically injured and families of fallen emergency responders from Colorado who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been donated to the cause during the last decade.

An AirLife HCA HealthONE helicopter buzzed the Allen Memorial Arena on Saturday, September 6, to honor the fallen and as if to say “We are here when you need us.”

The “riderless horse” was led around the arena as a touching tribute to those no longer present. The names of 50 of them were listed in the opening pages of the program.

The bulls and broncs at Buck for the Badge, furnished by S & S Bucking Bulls and Ford Rodeo, were in prime condition and champing at the bit for an eight-second tussle. Not just a contest between man and beast, the 15 bronc riding tournament included two women contenders. There was one woman among the 17 bull riders.

In the unusually close no-holds-barred Ranch Bronc category, Charge Heb took home first place with a score of 76.5. Jake Willingham registered 74, good for second place. Wes Aragon’s 73 took third and Carson Hein’s 72 landed him in fourth. In it for a worthy cause and love of the sport, the cowboys earned $720, $540, $360, and $180 respectively.

With both of his qualifying rides eligible, Rodrigo Palos ran away with the Bull Riding, recording a combined score of 154 points. Parker Gilbert completed a successful ride with a score of 76.5, which landed him in second place. Iskander Ocampa rode Dirty White Boy, scoring a 71. A 70 earned Hector Lerma fourth place and Emily Crowder came in fifth place with a score of 63.

Prize money in the amounts of $891, $702, $540, $378, and $189 were awarded to the valiant bullriders, male and female.